title: Galvanic microparticles increase migration of human dermal fibroblasts in a wound-healing model via reactive oxygen species pathway.
abstract: Electrical signals have been implied in many biological mechanisms, including wound healing, which has been associated with transient electrical currents not present in intact skin. One method to generate electrical signals similar to those naturally occurring in wounds is by supplementation of galvanic particles dispersed in a cream or gel. We constructed a three-layered model of skin consisting of human dermal fibroblasts in hydrogel (mimic of dermis), a hydrogel barrier layer (mimic of epidermis) and galvanic microparticles in hydrogel (mimic of a cream containing galvanic particles applied to skin). Using this model, we investigated the effects of the properties and amounts of Cu/Zn galvanic particles on adult human dermal fibroblasts in terms of the speed of wound closing and gene expression. The collected data suggest that the effects on wound closing are due to the ROS-mediated enhancement of fibroblast migration, which is in turn mediated by the BMP/SMAD signaling pathway. These results imply that topical low-grade electric currents via microparticles could enhance wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 622 West 168th Street, MC 104B, New York 10027, NY, USA; The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, Department of Electrical Engineering, 41 Cooper Square, New York 10003, NY, USA. Electronic address: nmt2104@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cimetta
authors.forename: Aranzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villasante
authors.forename: Nicolette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kupferstein
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Southall
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fassih
authors.forename: Junxia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vunjak-Novakovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002465:Cell Movement; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D008954:Models, Biological; D010316:Particle Size; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
keywords: Fibroblasts; Galvanic particles; Reactive oxygen species; Wound healing